Women's Recreation Association Records, 1920-1973

Overview of the Collection

creator
Women's Recreation Association (Western Washington State College)
Title
Women's Recreation Association Records
Dates
1920-1973 ( inclusive )
Quantity
12 cubic feet
Collection Number
WWUARC3900_001
Summary
Organizational records of the Women's Recreation Association at Western Washington State College (Western Washington University), beginning with the group's formation as the Women's Athletic Association and including records of branch clubs.
Repository
Western Washington University, University Archives
Goltz Murray Archives Building
Western Washington University
808 25th Street
Bellingham WA
98225-9123
Telephone: (360) 650-3124
university.archives@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

Access to certain material may be restricted under Washington State's Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

In 1930 the Women’s Athletic Association (WAA) began as an official organization on campus. Although there is evidence that the WAA formed as early as 1925, it was not made official until 1930 when they established a constitution and established by-laws. Also in 1930 the WAA began to keep track of membership with a signature scroll which was signed by all members of the WAA and its successor Women’s Recreation Association (WRA) from 1930 to 1962. The mission statement of the WAA read, “To foster good citizenship and to provide recognition for athletic ability; to foster college spirit by developing intra-mural and interclass athletics for all women, and to promote high physical efficiency among women.” The WAA continued to work with the same mission and name throughout the 1930’s. On October 16, 1940, a motion was made for a name change of the association and on November 19,1940, the Women’s Athletic Association changed its name to the Women’s Recreation Association (WRA).

According to the new WRA constitution; “the purpose of this organization shall be to provide opportunities for recreational and social activities for all women; to foster good citizenship; to foster college spirit; to inspire good sportsmanship and a love for playing the game.” Membership to the WRA was open to all women enrolled at Western Washington College of Education who had paid their dues and had participated in an initiation ritual. The WRA participated in several activities on campus and at other college campuses, which included seasonal sport turn outs, play days, sport days, various parties, trips, and their annual winter carnival. In the 1920’s when the club was still the WAA, the club bought a tract of land on Sinclair Island which included a small cabin, subsequently named Viqueen Lodge (a play on the schools “Viking” mascot name). One of the group’s annual activities was a trip to Sinclair Island to perform basic maintenance and repairs on the cabin and surrounding land and to recreate. Viqueen Lodge is still in use today but it is now owned and operated by the Associated Students of Western Washington University and is available to rent by both students and alumni.

In the 1950’s an article was added to the constitution of the WRA. This article allowed for branch clubs to be a part of the WRA. The two branch clubs were Modern Dance club (Orchesis) and the Blue Barnacles swim club. The branch clubs also had their own constitutions and by-laws and held separate meetings from the WAA/WRA. Little extant information exists about the Dance Club. The Blue Barnacles emerged from a swimming and life-saving sport club, formalizing the name Blue Barnacles in 1937. The activities of the Blue Barnacles in the beginning were lessons on the fundamentals of swimming and diving. Blue Barnacles also participated in swim meets. After 1946, the Blue Barnacles began to function as an aquatic arts club with an emphasis on synchronized swimming and performance.

Both the Blue Barnacles and the WRA were active on campus until at least 1972, after which point there appears to be no extant records of either group. Activities related to Modern Dance ceased as part of the Physical Education Department in 1974 when the Dance curriculum moved to the Theatre/Dance Department and became part of the newly-created College of Fine and Performing Arts in 1976. The passage of Title IX in 1972, the subsequent merger of Women’s and Men’s Physical Education Departments at Western, the eventual formalization of women’s varsity athletics, and the emergence of new social structures and activities on campus by the end of the 1960s all contributed to the dissolution of the WRA and the Blue Barnacles.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The records for the Women’s Recreation Association (WRA) begin in 1925 and continue to 1972. The records of the WRA are organized into the following records series: Administrative Records, Activity Reports, Events, Publications, Photographic Records, Scrapbooks, Artifacts, and Branch Clubs. The Administrative records consist of constitutions, by-laws, meeting minutes, membership lists and budgets. The Activity Reports records consist of reports which give a general accounting of a specific sports clubs. The Event records consist of reports which give the general accounting of swim shows, play days, conferences, banquets and outings that were sponsored by the WRA. The Publications of the WRA consists of newsletters, programs, instructional booklets, and WRA handbooks. Photographic Records consist of a small amount of photographs and seven glass plate negatives. There are five scrapbooks which have photographs, programs, newspaper clippings and artwork. Additional scrapbook material (photographs, newspaper clippings) forms part of the Blue Barnacles (Swim Club) Records, Scrapbooks series. The Artifact Records consist of a membership signature scroll, wool sweater patches and a wooden gavel. Branch Clubs records document the activities of the Blue Barnacles (swim club) and the Modern Dance (Orchesis) club.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Women's Recreation Association Records, University Archives, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections.

Alternative Forms Available

Selected digitized photographs and one digitized film from this collection are accessible online at https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A24133.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Custodial History

The records in this collection were created and maintained by the Women's Athletic Association and Women's Recreation Association, and thereafter held by the Department of Physical Education, Health, and Recreation at Western Washington University prior to transfer to the WWU Archives.

Acquisition Information

Accessioned by Western Washington University Archives from the Department of Physical Education, Health, and Recreation in 2009

Future Additions

No further accruals are expected.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 01:  Activity Reports ,  1940-1969 Return to Top

Activity reports for the Women's Recreation Association (WRA) consist of general accounting for the Women's Recreation Association as a whole and general accountings of individual sport clubs.

Container(s) Description Dates
box
2009-67-5
Activity reports (multiple sports)
1962-1963
2009-67-5
Activity reports (multiple sports)
1965
2009-67-5
Activity reports (multiple sports)
1966
2009-67-5
Activity reports (multiple sports)
1967-1968
2009-67-2
Archery
1953-1959
2009-67-3
Archery
1965
2009-67-2
ARFCW convention
1961
2009-67-2
Badminton
1950-1960
2009-67-3
Basketball
1960-1963
2009-67-3
Basketball
1968-1969
2009-67-2
Bowling
1953-1959
2009-67-2
Carnival
1958-1961
2009-67-2
Christmas party
1955-1960
2009-67-2
Fall outing
1950-1960
2009-67-2
General sports manager's report
1940-1941
2009-67-9
Hockey, Basketball, Softball, and Volleyball reports
1951-1960
2009-67-2
Individual sports, Golf
1958
2009-67-2
Initiation tea
1952-1960
2009-67-2
Picnic
1955-1957
2009-67-2
Ping pong
1952-1958
2009-67-2
Play days
1958-1961
2009-67-2
Reports
1953-1959
2009-67-2
Riding
1950
2009-67-2
Sinclair Island trip
1952-1961
2009-67-2
Ski outing
1966-1967
2009-67-2
Student activity report
1967
2009-67-2
Tennis
1952-1960
2009-67-3
Track and swim meet reports
1963-1964
2009-67-3
Volleyball
1954-1965
2009-67-3
Volleyball
1960-1966
2009-67-4 1966

Series 02:  Administrative Records ,  1925-1972 Return to Top

The administrative records consist of constitutions, by-laws, meeting minutes, membership lists and budgets.

Container(s) Description Dates
box
2009-67-3
Activity report forms
1965-1969
2009-67-3
Activity schedules
1966-1969
2009-67-3
Associated Student Body budgets
1932-1961
2009-67-3
Blazer orders
1962
2009-67-2
Booth committee report forms
1950-1972
2009-67-2
Budget
1962-1967
2009-67-3
Budget
1964-1971
2009-67-3
Budgets
1961-1970
2009-67-2
Constitution
1946-1947
2009-67-2
Constitution
1955
2009-67-2
Constitution and bylaws
1930
2009-67-3
Constitution and organizational chart
1970
2009-67-2
Constitution revised
1962
2009-67-3
Correspondence
1961-1962
2009-67-3
Correspondence
1969
2009-67-2
Extramural policies and NCWSA
1962-1970
2009-67-2
General meeting minutes
4/23/1962-5/9/1962
2009-67-3
Intramural-extramural report forms
1965-1970
2009-67-3
Invoices
1958
2009-67-9
Land purchase letter [photocopy]
1930-1972
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1935-1936
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1936-1937
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1939-1940
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1940-1941
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1946-1950
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1950-1952
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1952-1953
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1954-1955
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1955-1956
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1956-1957
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1957 (Oct-Dec)
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1958 (Jan-Apr)
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1958 (Oct-Dec)
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1959 (Oct)-1962 (May)
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1959-1960
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1962 (May)-1964 (Jan)
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1962 (Nov)
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1962-1963
2009-67-2
Meeting minutes
1964 (Sep-Dec)
2009-67-3
Meeting minutes
1965
2009-67-3
Membership dues
1965
2009-67-2
Membership lists
1930-1931
2009-67-2
Membership lists
1950-1959
2009-67-2
Membership lists and activity schedules file 1 of 2
1944-1945
2009-67-2
Membership lists and constitution
1932-1934
2009-67-2
Membership lists and constitution
1957-1959
2009-67-2
Membership lists and meeting minutes
1934-1935
2009-67-2
Membership lists and meeting minutes
1937-1938
2009-67-2
Membership lists and meeting minutes
1938-1939
2009-67-2
Membership lists and meeting minutes
1941-1942
2009-67-2
Membership lists and meeting minutes file 1 of 2
1942-1942
2009-67-2
Membership lists and meeting minutes file 1 of 2
1943-1944
2009-67-2
Membership lists and meeting minutes file 2 of 2
1942-1942
2009-67-2
Membership lists and meeting minutes file 2 of 2
1943-1944
2009-67-2
Membership lists and meeting minutes file 2 of 2
1944-1945
2009-67-3
Miscellaneous forms
1964-1972
2009-67-2
Miscellaneous forms and letter
1961-1963
2009-67-2
Nominations and elections
1970
2009-67-2
Office procedures
1960-1972
2009-67-2
Parliamentary procedure
1959-1972
2009-67-2
Proposed constitution changes
1955 (May)
2009-67-2
Publicity
1967 (Apr)
2009-67-9
Receipt duplicate book
1967
2009-67-9
Receipt duplicate book
1968-1971
2009-67-9
Receipt duplicate book, ski outing
1967
2009-67-2
Revised constitution
1957
2009-67-2
Revised constitution
1961
2009-67-2
Ruth Weythman letter to Lloyd Eastman
6/3/1953
2009-67-3
Song sheets
1965-1970
2009-67-3
Survey
1970
2009-67-3
Track and field record chart
1963-1965
2009-67-2
Women's Athletic Association awards
1925-1935

Series 03:  Artifacts ,  1930-1972 Return to Top

Artifacts consist of the following, membership signature scroll, wool sweater patches, a wooden gavel, a wooden dowel and a letter opener.

Container(s) Description Dates
box
2009-67-9
Arrowhead letter opener, "AAHPER 75th Anniversary Convention Miami Beach-1960"
1960
2009-67-5
Membership signature scroll
1930-1962
2009-67-5
Sweater patches, wool
1930-1972
2009-67-5
Wooden dowel
1930-1972
2009-67-5
Wooden gavel
1930-1972

Series 04:  Event Records ,  1941-1970 Return to Top

The Event Records series consists primarily of reports and information about events hosted and sponsored by the Women's Recreation Association.

Container(s) Description Dates
box
2009-67-3
Activity night
1964-1965
2009-67-3
Banquet
1959
2009-67-2
Banquet
1970
2009-67-3
Basketball conference and spring banquet
1960-1965
2009-67-3
Basketball play day
1955
2009-67-3
Basketball sports day
1959-1964
2009-67-2
Carnival
1969
2009-67-2
Carnival, "Hitching License"
1966-1967
2009-67-2
Carnival, play days, and spring banquet reports
1952-1966
2009-67-3
Co-ed hike
1968
2009-67-2
Decoration, "A Hawaiian Holiday"
5/10/1941
2009-67-3
Fall outing
1964-1966
2009-67-3
Get acquainted night
1968
2009-67-3
Hockey conference
1958-1965
2009-67-3
Picnic
1968
2009-67-2
Prize committee
1959-1967
2009-67-2
Prize committee
1968
2009-67-9
Sign-in Book, "Basketball Sports Day"
2/27/1948
2009-67-9
Sign-in Book, "High School Play Day"
4/8/1949
2009-67-9
Sign-in Book, "High School Play Day"
5/6/1944
2009-67-2
Sinclair Island
1963-1965
2009-67-3
Sportsday
1965
2009-67-3
Thanksgiving party
1968
2009-67-3
Track meet and swim meet schedules
1968
2009-67-3
Welcome night
1962-1964
2009-67-2
Winter carnival
1964

Series 05:  Photographic Records ,  ca. 1925 - ca. 1980 Return to Top

The Photographic Records series consists of photos of the Women's Recreation Association activities. Many additional photographs may be found in both the Scrapbooks and Reports series, as well as in the Blue Barnacles (Swim Club) Records, Scrapbooks series.

Selected digitized photographs are accessible online at https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A24133.

Container(s) Description Dates
box
2009-67-2
Photograph of attendees and chart from conference at University of Wisconsin attended by WWSC representatives
1967
2009-67-17
Photographs of WAA and WRA activities and various yearbook portraits
Selected digitized photographs are accessible online at https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A24133.
ca. 1925 - ca. 1980
2009-67-9
Sinclair Island outing
ca. 1965

Series 06:  Publications ,  1919-1972 Return to Top

The Publications records series consists of newsletters, handbooks, and instructional booklets.

Container(s) Description Dates
box
2009-67-3
American Recreation Federation for College Women conference reports
1939-1967
2009-67-9
Booklet, "Assets for Leadership: Athletic and Recreation Federation of College Women"
1965
2009-67-9
Booklet, "Official Basketball Guide for Women and Girls"
1931-1932
2009-67-9
Booklet, "Official Handbook of the National Section on Women's Athletics"
1930
2009-67-9
Booklet, "Philosophy and Standards for Girls and Women's Sports"
1969
2009-67-9
Booklet, "Standards in Sports for Girls and Women"
1958
2009-67-2
Handbook, "Frills and Thrills"
1970-1971
2009-67-2
Handbooks
1955-1970
2009-67-3
Information, publications from other schools
1960-1972
2009-67-3
Newsletter, "Sportlight"
1937-1957
2009-67-2
Newspaper clipping
1932

Series 07:  Scrapbooks ,  1925-1961 Return to Top

The Scrapbook records series consists of scrapbooks that chronicle the Women's Recreation Association from their origin as the Women's Athletic Association through the early 1960's. Photographs, newpaper clippings, and original artwork can be found throughout the scrapbooks. Additional scrapbook material relating to the Blue Barnacles (swim club) may be found in the Blue Barnacles (Swim Club) Records, Scrapbooks series.

Selected digitized photographs from this collection are accessible online at https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A24133.

Container(s) Description Dates
box
2009-67-8
Scrapbook [1]
1925-1943
2009-67-7
Scrapbook [2]
1932-1940
2009-67-6
Scrapbook [3]
1932-1955
2009-67-7
Scrapbook [4]
1939-1950
2009-67-6
Scrapbook [5]
1940-1943

Series 08:  Blue Barnacles (Swim Club) Records ,  1941-1972 Return to Top

The Blue Barnacles Swim Club began in approximately 1937, but became an official branch club to the Women's Recreation Association (WRA) in the 1950's. These records consist of constitutions, meeting minutes, activity reports, publications, and scrapbook material.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 08.01: Activity Reports
The Blue Barnacles activity reports consists of documents that give a general accounting of the activities of the Blue Barnacles.
1944-1970
box
2009-67-10
Activity report
1950-1959
2009-67-10
Activity reports
1969-1970
2009-67-3
Blue Barnacles, swim meet
1955
2009-67-10
Demonstrations
1944-1956
2009-67-3
Swim team
1962
Subseries 08.02: Administrative Records
The administrative records consist of constitutions, by-laws, meeting minutes, tryout scores, and membership attendance records.
1941-1972
box
2009-67-10
Attendance lists, tryout score sheets, and activity plans
1956-1957
2009-67-10
Constitution and membership lists
1953-1955
2009-67-10
Inventory, forms, and charts
1966-1967
2009-67-10
Meeting minutes
1941-1956
2009-67-10
Meeting minutes
1957-1958
2009-67-10
Meeting minutes
1963-1968
2009-67-10
Miscellaneous administrative records
1962-1968
2009-67-10
Miscellaneous administrative records
1964-1966
2009-67-10
Miscellaneous administrative records
1970-1972
2009-67-10
Miscellaneous administrative records [photo]
1958-1959
2009-67-10
Miscellaneous reports, notes, forms and charts
1957-1958
2009-67-10
Swimshow forms
1955-1972
2009-67-10
Swimshow lists and notes
1960-1963
Subseries 08.03: Events
The events records consist of reports produced for the Blue Barnacles annual swim shows.
1956-1968
box
2009-67-10
Aquatic arts symposium
1967-1968
2009-67-10
Silverfish workshop
1956
2009-67-10
Swimshow report, "Aqua Holidaze"
1958
2009-67-10
Swimshow report, "Broadway Splash"
1960
2009-67-10
Swimshow report, "Caribbean Castaways"
1957
2009-67-10
Swimshow report, "Coffee Break"
1961
2009-67-10
Swimshow report, "Dealer's Choice"
1963
2009-67-10
Swimshow report, "Dealer's Choice"
1964
2009-67-10
Swimshow report, "The Celestial-Terrestial Journey"
1956
2009-67-10
Swimshow report, "Watercolors"
1959
2009-67-10
Swimshow report, "Watercolors"
1967
Subseries 08.04: Publications
The publications records consist of newsletters and programs.
1952-1972
box
2009-67-10
Newsletters, "The Aquatic Artist" and "Synchronized Swimming News"
1952-1972
2009-67-10
Pictures, programs, and publicity
1952-1972
2009-67-10
Programs
1962-1972
Subseries 08.05: Scrapbooks
Collection of photographs and newspaper clippings for the Blue Barnacles Swim Club.
Selected digitized photographs are accessible online at https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A24133.
1953-1970
box
2009-67-9
Envelope labeled "Blue Barnacles scrapbook materials" and containing mostly photographs and a few newspaper clippings
1953-1970
2009-67-9
Envelope labeled "Blue Barnacles scrapbook materials" and containing only newspaper clippings
1955-1968

Series 09:  Dance Club Records ,  1930-1939 Return to Top

The Dance Club was a branch club established in the constitution of the Women's Recreation Association in the 1950's, though modern dance was already an active club activity within the Women's Recreation Association in prior years. Additional names used to refer to the dance club were "Modern Dance" and "Orchesis."

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 09.01: Photographic Records
The Photographic Records for the Orchesis (Modern Dance) Club consist of 7 glass plate negatives and several small black and white photographs.
Selected digitized photographs are accessible online at https://mabel.wwu.edu/islandora/object/wwu%3A24133.
1930-1939
box
2009-67-5
Glass plate negatives [7], black and white photos
1930-1939

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College sports for women
  • Intramural sports
  • Performing arts
  • Student activities
  • Women college athletes
  • Women--Recreation

Corporate Names

  • Women's Athletic Association (Washington State Normal School at Bellingham)
  • Women's Athletic Association (Western Washington College of Education)
  • Women's Recreation Association (Western Washington College of Education)
  • Women's Recreation Association (Western Washington State College)

Geographical Names

  • Bellingham (Wash.)